UYSA Announces Partnership with E4A!

UYSA is pleased to announce a new partnership with Especially for Athletes (E4A)!

From the Especially for athlete website

Especially for Athletes (“E4A”) is a movement specifically designed to inspire athletes and those with whom they associate, to maximize their athletic potential and to use their talents and social influence to assist and lift others. E4A is seeking to build a culture of athletes focused on changing lives through better use of the attention and influence they have access to.

Why the reason for athletes to do more? Here are some statistics showing the struggles our youth face.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among US adolescents aged 15–24. Although the suicide rate in the United States has remained stable over the past 40 years, the estimated rate among adolescents and young adults has nearly tripled.

Over 160,000 adolescents skip school daily in the United States out of the fear of being bullied.

Recent surveys of college students showed that 80% admitted to cheating in high school, and 2012, 3.6 percent of 8th graders, 14.5 percent of 10th graders, and 28.1 percent of 12th graders reported getting drunk in the past month.

E4A provides education, training and motivational tools to inspire athletes to focus on doing more, and becoming more than just a great athlete. Schools, teams, youth organizations, and individual athletes are encouraged to become E4A certified and join the growing group of athletes of all ages and skill levels including NBA, NFL and Olympic athletes in committing to the E4A promise and wearing proudly their Eyes Up-Do the Work wrist band.

UYSA will begin this partnership by implementing the E4A program into its Olympic Development Program (State Select) each year. “We’re excited for the players in our ODP program to be exposed to the E4A curriculum and to see the benefits the program provides for these players on and off the field.” Drew Hiatt, CEO of Utah Youth Soccer said. The E4A camp will be held in Mesquite Nevada during UYSA’s scheduled ODP combines. “Hopefully, our ODP players will set the example for not just the rest of the kids playing soccer in Utah, but for all youth in the state.” Hiatt said.

From Especially for Athletes founder Dustin Smith:

Especially for Athletes (E4A) is proud and honored to be working together with the UYSA to provide Utah soccer players with the finest in leadership and sportsmanship training through the Eyes Up – Do the Work training curriculum endorsed and followed by many top pro athletes, high schools and local business leaders. Athletes will have the opportunity to learn how to better prevent bullying, teen suicide, cheating, drug abuse and poor sportsmanship on their teams and in their schools/communities while also improving their own grades and athletic performance. Parents and coaches are encouraged to provide their son/daughter and teams to become E4A certified through attending an E4A camp or scheduling a private team/club E4A event.